342 EEPORT— 1897. 



It only remains to indicate the conclusion to which the study of the 

 Moreseat fossils has led me. 



Of the species enumerated by Mr. Salter in 1857 four have been 

 omitted from the preceding list, being regarded as doubtful identifications 

 which have not been confirmed by subsequent discoveries. Of the three 

 genera of Echinoderms mentioned by him the Discoidea was probably the 

 species which resembles D. decorata, and the two named respectively 

 Diadema and Ananchytes may have been Lower Greensand forms for 

 anything that we know to the contrary. 



The number of named species available for comparison with other 

 faunas is now 32. Out of this total no fewer than 24 are species of Lower 

 Cretaceous age, and only 6 of these range into the Gault ; 5 are species 

 which have not been found elsewhere, 2 are Upper Greensand species, but 

 1 of these is a doubtful determination, and 1 is an Ammonite, of which the 

 identification is also doubtful. There is therefore an overwhelming pro- 

 portion of exclusively Lower Cretaceous species, namely, 18 to 2, while out 

 of the 6 Cephalopods 5 are exclusively Lower Cretaceous forms, the only 

 one which is not being the very doubtful Am. selliguinus. 



The occurrence of one Upper Greensand echinoderm {Echinocyjihus 

 difficilis), and the possible occurrence of another ranging from Lower 

 Gault to Chalk (Echinoconus castanea (?) ) is hardly sufficient evidence to 

 warrant the conclusion that a part of the rock-mass was of Upper Green- 

 sand age. There is nothing except the possible Am. selliguinus that is 

 specially characteristic of the Gault, and the question then arises, — what is 

 the evidential value of the occurrence of Echinocyphus difficilis, and possibly 

 also of Echinoconus castanea ? I think it may be answered in this way : 

 it is more reasonable to suppose that these two species, or forms very closely 

 allied to them, date really from Lower Cretaceous times, than it is to 

 suppose the deposition of exactly the same kind of rock material should 

 have continued at any one place from the time of the Lower G reensand to 

 that of the Upper Greensand. In other words, I believe that the rock- 

 mass from which the Moreseat fossils have been derived was entirely a 

 Lower Cretaceous rock, but high in that series, and corresponding approxi- 

 mately to the Aptien stage of France, and to the Lower Greensand or 

 Vectian of the Isle of Wisht. 



Siyujapore Caves. — Interim Reiiort of the Committee, consisting of Sir 

 W. H. Flower {Chairman), Mr. H. N. Eidley (Secretary), Dr. 

 E. Hanitsch, Mr. Clement Reid, ami Dr. A. Russel Wallace, 

 appointed to explore certain caves near Singapore, and to collect their 

 living and extinct Fauna. 



The Committee has received from Mr. Ridley an account of a preliminary 

 examination of the caves of Kwala Sum pur, and also notes on the animafc 

 now inhabiting them. At the time of wi-iting Mr. Ridley expected soon 

 to be able to pay another visit, and to use gunpowder to break up the 

 massive stalagmite. A first attempt to explore the cave deposits was not 

 successful, as dynamite was used and proved unsuitable for the purpose. 

 It will perhaps be better to reserve an account of the living cave fauna 

 till fuller collections have been made and the specimens have all been 

 determined. The Committee asks for re-appointment and the renewal of 

 the unexpended balance of the grant. 



